William Drummond - Poems: The First Part XXXII lyrics

If crost with all mishaps be my poor life, If one short day I never spent in mirth, If my spright with itself holds lasting strife, If sorrow's d**h is but new sorrow's birth; If this vain world be but a sable stage Where slave-born man plays to the scoffing stars, If youth be toss'd with love, with weakness age, If knowledge serve to hold our thoughts in wars; If time can close the hundred mouths of fame, And make, what long since past, like that to be, If virtue only be an idle name, If I, when I was born, was born to die; Why seek I to prolong these loathsome days? The fairest rose in shortest time decays.